Knowledge regarding snake bite in rural Bengal – Are they still lingering on myths and misconceptions.

Introduction: Snake bite is a very common problem in rural India which even today leads to a large number of deaths. This is because the uninformed community members take recourse to harmful traditional healing measures which cause loss of vital time which is very important for the survival of the patient. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of the study population on snake bite and to elicit any association of this knowledge with their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Material and methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was done in a village in the Singur Block of Hooghly district of West Bengal. The head of the family or in his absence the senior most members was interviewed with a pre-designed, pre-tested schedule. Results: Farming was the occupation of the majority (36%) followed by business (20.6%) and service (17.7%). 45% belonged to the social class I and II (modified B.G. Prasad) while 39% were in the social class IV and V. Only 58.85% of the study population were aware that the incidence of snake bite can be reduced. 68% were aware of immobilisation of the affected part was the initial first aid measure and only 4% had the correct knowledge that application of collar was unnecessary and harmful. . Correct knowledge on the availability of specific treatment was present among 85.1% and 77.1% knew where specific treatment is available. Education OR 2.51 (1.26 – 5.00), Occuption OR 4.44 (2.35-8.40), PCI OR 2.05 (1.12-3.76) were significantly associated with good knowledge. Conclusion: There is a paucity of knowledge on different domains of snakebite. Hence dissemination of correct knowledge is necessary to remove their misconceptions.

Effect of Ovaprim doses and latency periods on induced spawning of Clarias batrachus: observation on larval deformity.

Induced spawning of C. batrachus was conducted at different Ovaprim dose and latency period combinations to observe the deformed larvae among the hatchlings. For the purpose, four doses of Ovaprim (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ml/kg body weight) and five latency periods (11, 14, 17, 20 and 23 hr) were considered in 20 different combinations. There were no deformed larvae in the females injected with all four doses and stripped at 11 hr latency, as the eggs did not hatch. The percentage of deformed larvae (4-7%) did not vary significantly at 1.0-2.0 ml dose level in combination with 14-17 hr latency periods. While increasing the latency period beyond 17 hr at 1-1.5 ml dose level, the percentage of deformed larvae increased significantly and touched as high as 11%. The results indicated that 1-1.5 ml dose in combination with 14-17 hr latency are suitable to reduce the deformed larvae among the hatchlings during induced spawning of C. batrachus.

Seminoma in hybrid catfish [Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) female x Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) male].

Spontaneous testicular tumors, seminoma, were noticed in four male hybrid catfish (C. batrachus female x C. gariepinus male) after the age of two years. The hybrids showed massive abdominal swelling with catchectic body and free lobulated, encapsulated tumors (> 325 g) within the serosanguinous fluid-filled peritoneal cavities. The tumor cells were large and polyhedral with prominent centrally located nuclei. Other vital organs appeared normal. It seems to be the first report of seminoma in hybrid catfish and possibly of genetic cause.

Prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs among children of Cuttack (Orissa).

An epidemiological investigation was carried out to know the prevalence of Dental Caries amongst 1257 children in the age group of 5, 8, 11 & 15 years respectively attending schools in the city of Cuttack, Orissa. The examination was carried out under natural light and dental caries was diagnosed according to W.H.O. Criteria 1983. The point prevalence of dental caries was recorded to be 64.3% with an average DMFT of 2.38. The prevalence of caries showed a pattern of occurrence i.e. prevalence consistantly increased from 5 years to 8 years age group and subsequently decreased at 11 years and 15 years age. Regarding treatment needs, 63.6% children required dental treatment for various reason and it is in accordance with dental caries prevalence of different age group.

Role of duodenal bile crystal analysis in idiopathic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to find out the incidence and clinical use of duodenal bile crystal analysis in patients presenting with idiopathic pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were studied. They were divided into two subgroups (known and unknown causes). Sixty patients were used as controls and divided into 3 subgroups (n = 20 each). The patients of acute pancreatitis with severe or life threatening complications or those requiring surgical interventions were excluded. Bile samples from both groups were analyzed for presence or absence of crystals. RESULTS: The maximum age incidence of acute pancreatitis was in the fifth decade (41-50 years). The M/F ratio was 3.6:1. Recurrent acute pancreatitis was observed in 26.6% cases (20% idiopathic vs. 6.6% known aetiology). Twenty-five percent of the control sub group (n = 20) cases of cholelithiasis without history of pancreatitis had positive microcrystals in their bile sample. In patients with idiopathic pancreatitis (n = 18), 7 cases (11.6%) had crystals in the bile. In those with known causes of pancreatitis (n = 42), 33 cases (55%) had positive crystals in the bile. CONCLUSION: Thirty percent of our patients had idiopathic acute pancreatitis with a high rate of clinical recurrence (20%). Duodenal bile crystal analysis detected 7 cases of microlithiasis out of 18 cases in this group and suggested an aetiology. This procedure should be used more often.